Search Publications

During the 2021 legislative session, the General Assembly introduced several bills concerning crimes, criminal penalties, and law enforcement. Following is a recap of the major legislation considered in these subject areas.During the 2021 legislative session, the General Assembly introduced several bills concerning crimes, criminal penalties, and law enforcement. Following is a recap of the major legislation considered in these subject areas.

The General Assembly adopted several measures during the 2021 legislative session related to health care and insurance. 

Final Report to the Colorado General Assembly by the Colorado Youth Advisory Council Review Committee.

Final Report to the Colorado General Assembly by the Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning Tax Policy.  

Pursuant to state law (Section 26-6.5-203, C.R.S.), the Early Childhood and School Readiness Legislative Commission (ECSRLC) may meet up to four times per year to study issues concerning early childhood and school readiness.

Focus Colorado presents forecasts for the economy and state government revenue through FY 2019-20. Implications of the forecast for the state's General Fund budget and spending limit are described in the report's highlights and executive summary sections. The report is based on current law, legislation passed by the General Assembly affecting the forecast is described throughout the report.

The Budget in Brief is a condensed summary of the final action of the General Assembly and the Governor on the budget and other legislation passed during the previous legislative session that contained an appropriation of moneys.

Pursuant to Section 2-3-1602, C.R.S., the committee is charged with reviewing and proposing legislation or other policy changes related to wildfire prevention, mitigation, and related matters, including public safety and forest health issues.

This memorandum provides an overview of ranked-choice voting, or instant-runoff voting.  Ranked‑choice voting (RCV) is currently used in some nonpartisan elections in three Colorado municipalities, with an additional two municipalities using it in future elections.  House Bill 21-1071, passed in the 2021 legislative session, may lead to more municipalities using RCV in nonpartisan elections beginning 2023.

Pursuant to Section 10-16-221, Colorado Revised Statutes, the Statewide Health Care Review Committee was created to study health care issues across the state.

The Long Bill Narrative, which is the annual appropriations act, is prepared by staff to explain funding decisions recommended by the JBC to the rest of the General Assembly.  This document is a companion document to the actual Long Bill.  The narrative outlines budget changes based on the introduced version of the Long Bill.

During the 2022 legislative session, the General Assembly passed several laws related to the regulation of the business of insurance in the state, as well as laws related to workers’ compensation claims and commercial regulation.

This memorandum provides information about FY 2022-23 appropriations for state-funded behavioral health programs.  Information for this memorandum was taken from:

• the FY 2022-23 Long Bill, House Bill 22-1329;
• other bills that include funding for behavioral health programs;
• Joint Budget Committee (JBC) staff FY 2022-23 figure-setting documents and the JBC Appropriations Report FY 2022-23; and
• department staff.

Report No. 2023-TE9

Report No. 2023-TE6

The General Assembly considered multiple bills related to water, including legislation focused on project funding, xeriscaping, studying various water challenges across the state, and stream restoration.

Pursuant to Article 98 of Title 37, Colorado Revised Statutes. The purpose of this committee is to oversee the conservation, use, development, and financing of Colorado's water resources.

Pursuant to Senate Bill 07-229 and is required to develop a plan for the response by, and continuation of operations of, the General Assembly and the legislative service agencies in the event of an emergency epidemic or disaster.

The Supplemental Narrative is prepared by the staff to explain proposed adjustments to prior year appropriations recommended by the JBC to the rest of the General Assembly.  This narrative describes all of the proposed budget changes statewide, by department, and by program, and provides detailed calculations of the spending and revenue limits.  This explanation does not reflect any subsequent changes to the Supplemental Bills as they are amended by the Senate or House of Representatives.

Sunset laws allow the General Assembly to periodically review the need for state regulations, advisory committees, or state agencies and to update the law creating the agency or function.  To accomplish this review, committees of reference hold public sunset hearings on sunset reports issued by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA).

This memorandum examines technical debt and modernization, along with legislation that aims to address legacy technical solutions that serve government organizations and their constituents.

Final Report to the Colorado General Assembly by the Task Force on Economic Recovery and Relief Cash Fund.

This memorandum provides background information on current and past statutory mechanisms used to refund state revenue in excess of the spending limit contained in the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR).  TABOR allows the state to use "any reasonable method" for refunds.

The Governor and  General  Assembly  formed  the Behavioral Health Transformational Task  Force and  Subpanel to  develop  recommendations  in 2021. Comprised  of legislators, executive branch representatives, and  diverse behavioral health practitioners  and  experts, the Task  Force and  Subpanel undertook  a deliberative and  transparent  process.